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Psalm 72

Prayer for Guidance and Support for the King

Of Solomon.

1

Give the king your justice, O God,

and your righteousness to a king’s son.

2

May he judge your people with righteousness,

and your poor with justice.

3

May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,

and the hills, in righteousness.

4

May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,

give deliverance to the needy,

and crush the oppressor.

 

5

May he live while the sun endures,

and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.

6

May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,

like showers that water the earth.

7

In his days may righteousness flourish

and peace abound, until the moon is no more.

 

8

May he have dominion from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

9

May his foes bow down before him,

and his enemies lick the dust.

10

May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles

render him tribute,

may the kings of Sheba and Seba

bring gifts.

11

May all kings fall down before him,

all nations give him service.

 

12

For he delivers the needy when they call,

the poor and those who have no helper.

13

He has pity on the weak and the needy,

and saves the lives of the needy.

14

From oppression and violence he redeems their life;

and precious is their blood in his sight.

 

15

Long may he live!

May gold of Sheba be given to him.

May prayer be made for him continually,

and blessings invoked for him all day long.

16

May there be abundance of grain in the land;

may it wave on the tops of the mountains;

may its fruit be like Lebanon;

and may people blossom in the cities

like the grass of the field.

17

May his name endure forever,

his fame continue as long as the sun.

May all nations be blessed in him;

may they pronounce him happy.

 

18

Blessed be the L ord, the God of Israel,

who alone does wondrous things.

19

Blessed be his glorious name forever;

may his glory fill the whole earth.

Amen and Amen.

 

20

The prayers of David son of Jesse are ended.


11. And all kings shall prostrate themselves before him. This verse contains a more distinct statement of the truth, That the whole world will be brought in subjection to the authority of Christ. The kingdom of Judah was unquestionably never more flourishing than under the reign of Solomon; but even then there were only a small number of kings who paid tribute to him, and what they paid was inconsiderable in amount; and, moreover, it was paid upon condition that they should be allowed to live in the enjoyment of liberty under their own laws. While David then began with his own son, and the posterity of his son, he rose by the Spirit of prophecy to the spiritual kingdom of Christ; a point worthy of our special notice, since it teaches us that we have not been called to the hope of everlasting salvation by chance, but because our heavenly Father had already destined to give us to his Son. From this we also learn, that in the Church and flock of Christ there is a place for kings; whom David does not here disarm of their sword nor despoil of their crown, in order to admit them into the Church, but rather declares that they will come with all the dignity of their station to prostrate themselves at the feet of Christ.


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